Heinrichs Announces U.S. Women's Roster for 2000 Algarve Cup

NewsMar 6, 2000

CHICAGO (Monday, March 6, 2000) - U.S. Women's National Team Head Coach April Heinrichs has named her 18-player roster for the 2000 Algarve Cup to be contested in Portugal from March 12-18, choosing her squad from the 29-player training camp that concluded today in Orlando, Florida. Heinrichs will bring 14 players from the 1999 Women's World Cup championship team, but also sprinkled in some young talent as the USA will attempt to break a frustrating streak of five consecutive Algarve Cups without a championship. The U.S. team leaves for Europe tomorrow.

The 2000 Algarve Cup features four countries that will be participating in the 2000 Olympic Women's Soccer competition this fall: China, Norway, Sweden and the USA. Canada, Denmark, Finland and host Portugal round out the field in one of the most competitive international women's soccer events outside of the Women's World Cup and the Olympics. The tournament is played in the Algarve region of Portugal on the southern tip of the country.

With Women's World Cup hero Briana Scurry sidelined due to a leg injury, Heinrichs called in seven goalkeepers for the training camp, giving the nod to Siri Mullinix and 19-year-old Jen Branam for the Algarve roster. Both have extensive experience with the U.S. Under-21 National Team, but have just two full national team caps between them. Heinrichs also chose 5-foot-10 forward Christie Welsh, the second leading scorer in the country last season for Penn State and scorer of the USA's lone goal in its last match, a 2-1 loss to Norway on Feb. 9, 2000, in Ft. Lauderdale. Nineteen-year-old defender Danielle Slaton also made the roster. The left-footed Slaton picked up three caps and her first career goal at the Australia Cup in January.

Veteran Michelle Akers, who underwent nasal surgery today to correct residual damage from a broken cheekbone suffered last February in the Women's World All-Star Match, will not make the trip, but is expected back for the USA's next domestic match on April 8 against Iceland in Charlotte, N.C.

The USA will open the Algarve Cup on Sunday, March 12, against Portugal, face Denmark on Tuesday, March 14, and finish first-round play with Sweden on Thursday, March 16. The group winners will play for the championship on Saturday, March 18, making for a grueling schedule of four games in seven days, but also could feature the first meeting between the USA and China since the historic 1999 Women's World Cup Final.